Video Premiere: Golden Dawn Arkestra Drops New Single Somebody’s Out There

Friday, August 22, 2025, sees the release of a new video and single “Somebody’s Out There” by Austin’s favorite psychedelic disco funk collective, Golden Dawn Arkestra.

For the uninitiated, GDA is a multi-ethnic band that blends the stylings of the Sun Ra Arkestra, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. They’ve got bongos, brass, and beautiful chicks in sparkly outfits dancing and singing in unison—a glorious callback to the big soundstage performances of the ’70s and early ’80s.

With “Somebody’s Out There” we’re treated to funky bass lines overlapping with an ecstatic vocal chorus that immediately elevates the mood and demands that you get on your feet for a proper boogie. On top of all of it are the vocal stylings of lead singer Topaz McGarrigal sounding like a holy man addressing his congregation, encouraging them to take a cosmic trip of self discovery:

Maybe take the time to

Look inside your mind

(somebody’s out there, somebody’s out there)

It’s never black or white

There’s more that you can find

(somebody’s out there, somebody’s out there)

The new single offers fans a preview of the band’s forthcoming album, their first LP release since 2022.

“With the new album, we are returning to our roots to some extent, embracing an afro/rock psych sound. This is the first album we’ve done since The Gold Album, which was recorded during COVID, which made it a lot harder to collaborate with such a large band. So it was really exciting to collaborate more on this album,” McGarragal tells the Cosmic Clash.

“The first single ‘Somebody’s Out There’ drew a lot of inspiration from the legendary Ghanaian guitarist Ebo Taylor, so it was an absolute honor to meet him when he was in town a few months ago, and I even got to play the song for him. The message of the song speaks to listening to our ancestors and the spiritual beings who have a message for us if we can take the time to listen to what they are saying.”

The video accompanying this glittering new track is a callback to a bygone era when showmanship was at its peak. McGarrigle continues, “[It was] directed by our long-time collaborator Benjamin Blanchard and draws inspiration from the ’70s shows such as Soul Train, and takes place in a beautiful space that takes us on a gorgeous golden cruise to the outer reaches of the universe.”

According to director Ben Blanchard, “The ‘Somebody’s Out There’ video was inspired by the look and feel of 70s variety shows like Soul Train and American Bandstand. I’ve been obsessed with creating a big light-up sign like those shows had in that era. When Topaz approached me about doing a band performance video, I knew that it was the perfect fit. I looked at Italian Disco videos from the late 70s for the set inspiration, which draws on the band’s Egyptian motif. What emerged was a kind of extra-terrestrial’s attempt at putting on a Las Vegas revue that people on Earth might enjoy.”

Included in the video is a 40-second animation featuring a golden limousine cruising through space, encountering various psychedelic imagery.

“I wanted to include some animation like those ’70s variety shows did to round out that feeling of being a kid on Saturday morning watching the mixed bag of cartoons and dance videos,” says Blanchard. Big props to animator Michelle Chu for capturing the vibe that so many of us Gen X kids grew up with.

Watch the video for “Somebody’s Out There”:

While we wait with bated breath for the GDA album to drop, there are opportunities to see the band in person. Golden Dawn’s next live show will be at Meadowfest at the Far Out Lounge on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Be there or be square.

Featured photo courtesy of of Golden Dawn Arkestra

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